CitiSelect program involves two year s at big-name law firm, signing bonus. Citigroup Global Wealth Management (CGWM) has linked up with four law schools and three law firms in an effort to attract and train attorneys. The CitiSelect recruitment program calls for nabbing attorneys right out of law school and sending them off to work at a law firm for two years before they're offered signing bonuses and v.p.-level jobs in the CGWM's legal department.

"Students will receive the much sought after training and experience that comes from working at a top law firm and then put those well-honed skills and talents to work at Citigroup, one of the world's leading financial institutions," says Michael Sharp, CGWM's general counsel.

Those interested

CGWM wasn't available to comment on specific roles CitiSelect recruits might be assigned after fulfilling their two-year placements. Nor did the Citigroup business unit, which consists of Smith Barney, Citigroup Private Bank and Citigroup Investment Research, say whether it plans to target other professions with similar programs.

Citi says it plans to expand the CitiSelect program to include more schools and more laws firms. For now recruiting is limited to the law schools of Columbia University, Howard University, New York University (N.Y.U.) and the University of Pennsylvania. The law firms in play are Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton, Bingham McCutchen and Paul Weiss Rifkind Wharton & Garrison.

Irene Dorzback, assistant dean of career services at N.Y.U.'s School of Law, says CitiSelect "provides a well-defined pathway for law students who wish to make the transition from legal practice in a law firm setting to a corporation legal department."

There's more information on the program here. -FWR

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